YOUth Review: Wonder by R. J. Palacio 

Being someone with a chronic illness, disability, or disorder can come with a lot of prejudice and bullying—especially as a child.

Wonder by R. J. Palacio follows the life of August "Auggie" Pullman, a fifth grader who was born with a genetic disorder that affects his facial appearance. After being homeschooled his entire life, Auggie is enrolled in a mainstream school. While attending school, Auggie is faced with endless amounts of bullying, discrimination, and isolation from other kids. Aside from the physical pain from his disability, he also deals with mental struggles of not “fitting in” and being seen as different from the other kids. Auggie—like any other child—wants to fit in and have friends he can hang out with, but instead, he is mocked for having a different appearance due to his disability and the numerous surgeries he has gone through. As the story unfolds, Auggie and the people around him learn valuable lessons about kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.  

Wonder is a work of realistic fiction that explores the complexities of living in the world as someone who is “different” or doesn’t fit societal expectations for how a person should look and behave. The book is beautifully written—especially in the way it portrays the complexities of adolescents and the desire to fit in. Palacio captured the struggles of standing out from social norms and showed how the smallest gesture of kindness can change someone’s life. I really enjoyed this insightful read.

Written by Marissa C.